«It is clear that cooperation between Baltic States and Poland has been positive in the past several years, and that it has large potential for development in the future,» – said Latvia’s Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis during a conversation with his Polish colleague, expressing gratitude to Poland for its decision to send a company of soldiers to Baltic States.

During his work visit throughout 13-14 March, Bergmanis visited Warsaw, where he met with Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz and the deputy head of the National Defence Bureau Jaroslaw Brysiewicz to discuss the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw and the security situation in Eastern Europe.

Officials agreed that the upcoming NATO summit will be important for Baltic States and Poland. «We have high hopes for the upcoming NATO collective decisions,» – said Bergmanis.

The two defence ministers discussed matters related to the enhancement of regional security, increase of the presence of allied forces and other matters related to the NATO summit in Warsaw. Bergmanis welcomed Poland’s contribution into the organization of the summit. He also said Latvia will carefully consider all proposals from Poland for regional security, as confirmed by Defence Minister.

«The history of our countries’ bilateral relations demonstrates close cooperation, especially in the field of regional security. It is clear that cooperation between Poland and Baltic States has been productive in recent years, and there is great potential for future developments,» – said Bergmanis.

In a conversation with Jaroslaw Brysiewicz, Bergmanis expressed satisfaction with the fact that USA continues to increase its military presence in Europe. It is especially important that this military presence increases not only in Central Europe, but also in Baltic States. «I can confirm that we will be prepared for the increase of presence of allied forces,» – said the minister.

During his visit to Warsaw, Bergmanis and his Polish colleagues agreed that Europe’s challenges in regards to the migrant crisis have to be resolved as soon as possible. Nevertheless, countries cannot afford to pay less attention to the situation in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Participants of the discussion admitted that the conflicts in the East and South are of equal importance. Nevertheless, it does not mean that the international community can afford to pay less attention to the situation in Ukraine. «Latvia is especially concerned about the failure to comply with the Minsk treaty in spite of the agreement reached by the international community,» – admitted Bergmanis, adding that Latvia supports the plan to approve a programme during the Warsaw summit to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

In conclusion of the discussion, Defence Minister Bergmanis emphasized that it is far more important to invest in measures aimed to deter external aggression more effectively than it is to fight for the country’s territorial and political integrity later.

Members of the European Parliament have overwhelmingly supported what has been negotiated upon in the joint EU-UK progress report in Brexit talks and have recommended Brussels to move on to phase two negotiations on the future relations of the parties.

The silent period – the time for Christmas wishes – has begun. Snow covers Tukums, and the city slowly becomes white. Everything is quiet at Pils ielā. The phone rings, interrupting a quiet moment of watching snowflakes fall under the light of a lantern. «You’re here for us, aren’t you?» BNN goes to interview manager of Merci Cafe Anija Rabkeviča (23) and cafe’s founder Rinalds Pluģis (22). They tell about their experience of ‘surviving’ in Latvia.

Latvian Transport Ministry’s developed development plan for the transit industry, which was presented to Saeima’s National Economy Committee this week, states that raising competitiveness in the country requires subsidizing railway cargo transports.

Only political discussions were held proposal on the merge between Latvijas Mobilais Telefons and Lattelecom, and it is good that this matter has been taken off the agenda, said LMT President Juris Binde in an interview to Rīta Panorāma programme of LNT.

In the Estonian capital, the result of a legal dispute between water utility company Tallinna Vesi and the Estonian Competition Authority is that consumers are considered to be able to claim tens of millions of euros in compensation for overcharged water tariffs that have been in place for a number of years.

It was decided at a meeting of representatives of Latvian Association of Regions (LAR) that the party will not work with For Latvia’s Development. The party has also decided to start in 13th Saeima elections with its own list of candidates.

Italy has declared a state of emergency in its natural gas sector as a large explosion at a major natural gas hub in Austria killed one person, injured at least 18 and is prone to affect supplies in central Europe.

«To maintain GDP growth rate, the government should address priority matters like prevention of mandatory procurement component costs and electricity price rise to reduce costs for both businesses and residents. It is very important for employers to have the energy policy closely tied with production, because processing industry is the main driving force behind development of Latvia’s national economy,» says Latvian Employers’ Confederation (LEC) Director General Līga Meņģelsone.

The clients of Irish low-fare airline Ryanair will face inconvenience before Christmas as pilots and crew announced industrial action seeking to achieve union recognition and better conditions in the company, which is criticised by unions that it fails to offer pilots the same pay and conditions as its rivals.

Money laundering activities and grey economy are in decline in Latvia. However, corruption in the country’s public sector and smuggling activities remain serious problems for the national economy, as noted in the report on unaudited economy, corruption in the public sector and money laundering activities in Latvia published by Latvian Chamber for Commerce and Industry on Tuesday, 12 December.

Former Georgian President, now opposition activist in Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili, has been released from arrest by a judge, who denied a request from prosecutors to subject him to house arrest, but the case against him continues.

Latvia’s Justice Minister Dzintars Rasnačs has met with his Macedonian colleague Bilen Saliji, who arrived in Latvia to sign the Memorandum for Cooperation between Latvian Justice Ministry and Macedonian Justice Ministry.

The majority or 65% of Latvian respondents mentioned that whenever they make travel arrangements, they try to avoid regions in which there is a high probability of terrorist attacks or natural catastrophes, according to the latest Latvia Tours Travel Index.

The only offer extended to the now former state secretary of Latvia’s Interior Affairs Ministry Ilze Pētersone-Godmane to help her stay in state administration was the offer to become a candidate for the most of head of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, as reported by Latvijas Avīze.

«Latvia continues supporting the solution that can be achieved through direct talks between Israel and Palestine with compliance of interests of both sides and making Jerusalem the capital of both countries. The European Union has to remain a reliable partner for Israel and Palestine. We have to continue the open dialogue with both sides and ensure EU’s unity in the Middle East peace process,» says Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s parliamentary secretary Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica.

Countryside tourism businesses are threatened by unfair competition and growing bureaucracy, as emphasized by Latvian Countryside Tourism Association Lauku ceļotājs after discussing this season’s results at four regional business seminars.

As Estonia seeks to relocate part of government agencies out of the capital Tallinn, Estonian government ministers have been reminded that by the middle of January an action plan is required from them on the relocation of the central offices of 13 Estonian state institutions.

The volume of exports continued growing in November, reaching EUR 1,070,600 at the end of the month and setting a new record for exports for one month’s time. This export index is the highest in the history of statistical records in Latvia, Finance Ministry stated in its report, commenting on data from the Central Statistical Bureau.

Governments of European Union member states are aware of torture and abuse of refugees and migrants in Libya, Amnesty International has stated, insisting that trying to reduce migration, the EU is actively financially supporting a «system of abuse and exploitation» on the Mediterranean coast of Libya.